Simulated golf club ball projector



July 5, 1966 J. M. BEIGAY SIMULATED GOLF CLUB BALL PROJECTOR 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1964 20 INVENTOR JACK M. 55/64) July 5,1966 J BEIGAY 3,259,387

SIMULATED GOLF CLUB BALL PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2//VVENTOR JACK M. BE/GA Y Attorney United States Patent 3,259,387SIMULATED GDLF CLUB BALL PROJEETOR Jack M. Beigay, 596 Sterling Drive,Freeport, Pa. Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 341,879 Claims. (Cl. 273-67)This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly toapparatus for playing a simulated golf game indoors or outdoors in arestricted space.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a device forplaying a simulated golf game in restricted space.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a club for playing asimulated game of golf which will strike a ball with the club heldstationary, thereby making the game safe for children to play, and alsosafe for indoor play.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a club forplaying a simulated golf game which is easily operated by children andin which the operators skill and proficiency is important in theaccurate driving of balls.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of a club forplaying a simulated game of golf in which competition and scoring issimilar to ordinary golf.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings showing several embodiments in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a person playing a simulated golfinggame with the device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened elevational view partially in section withparts broken away, of one embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of lineIII-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of lineIVIV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of lineV-V of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 of another embodiment of thisinvention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of lineVII-VII of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 of yet another embodiment of thisinvention;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken substantially along the plane of line IX--IX ofFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane ofline X-X of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE '11 is a perspective view of a combination Green and hole withflag-stick for use in playing a simulated golfing game.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 2 through 5,one embodiment of a club, according to my invention, suitable forplaying a simulated golfing game is shown. The club has a housing 10which includes an elongated tubular handle portion 12 and molded headportion 14. The handle 12 and head portion 14 are preferably made ofplastic with the head being molded to resemble the head of aconventional wood golf club. The head portion 14 is molded around asheet metal or hard plastic frame 16 which defines an inner recess orcavity 18, thus making the head hollow. A ball striking mechanismdesignated generally as 20 is disposed within the recess 18. The ballstriking mechanism includes a support plate 22 secured to the back Wallof the frame 16 by screws 24. A ball striking plate 26 having a front orball striking roughened surface 27 is slidably mounted in the recess 18,and has a rod extension 28 extending from the back thereof. The rod 28extends through an aperture 30 formed in the support plate 22 andextends through the rear of the club head. A coil spring 32 isinterposed between the striking plate 26 and the support plate 22 andnormally urges the striking plate away from the support plate 22 to theouter surface of the club head. The coil spring 32 is secured to thestriking plate 26 and the support plate 22 by suitable bracket and screwassemblies 34.

The rod 28 is provided with three spaced notches or grooves 36, 38, and40. Each of the notches has a back or stop surface lying on a planenormal to the direction of movement of the striking plate 26, and -asloping override surface extending from the stop surface. A detent pin42 is provided which is slidably mounted in an aperture 44 drilledtransversely in the support block 26. The aperture 44 is rounded andenlarged at the locations shown at 46 and 48 to aid the release movementof the pin as will be described presently, The rounded or enlarged areas46 and 48 are easily formed during the drilling of aperture 44. Thedetent pin has a flat rear surface 49 for engagement of the stopsurfaces of the notches, and a rounded front surface 51 to facilitatethe overriding of the slanting surfaces of the notches. The detent pinis biased toward the rod 28 by a biasing spring secured to the lateralsurface of the support block 22 by screws 52. A flexible cord 54 issecured to the end of the detent pin 42 and extends up the hollow handleWhere it is secured to a trigger mechanism 56. The trigger mechanism 56includes a dowel pin 58 slidably mounted in the tubular handle 12, and agrip 60 extending from the pin 58 through an elongated slot 62 formed inthe handle wall.

The device shown in FIGURES 2 through 5 is particularly adapted to driveplastic balls such as table tennis balls or the like, and is operated inthe following manner. After a previous shot, the striking plate is inthe ball striking position at the front of the cavity 18 under theurging of spring 32. The club head is held in the hands and the strikingplate pushed back into the cavity to cock it for use. For a short shotthe striking plate is pushed until the detent pin 42 engages notch 36.As soon as notch 36 is adjacent the detent pin 42, spring 50 will urgethe pin into the notch with an audible snap. The flat surface 49 of thepin 42 will be against the stop surface of the notch 36 preventing theforward movement of the striking plate 26 under the urging of spring 32which has been compressed by the movement of the striking plate. If ashot of intermediate distance is desired, the striking plate is furtherdepressed into the recess, further compressing the spring 32. Duringmovement, the rounded front edge 51 of the detent pin will cam againstthe tapered edge of the slot 36 allowing the detent pin 42 to overridethe notch 36. The striking plate is moved until the pin snaps into notch38. Similarly, for long distance shots the striking plate is pushedfurther into the recess causing notch 38 to override the detent pinuntil the detent pin snaps into notch 40. The rod 28 is provided withindicia in the form, the numbers 1, 2, and 3' to indicate the notchwhich is engaged by the detent pin 42, and hence the type of shot set.When the number I only is exposed on the rod at the rear of the clubhead, then the pin is in notch 36 and a short shot is set; when thenumber 2 is exposed an intermediate shot is set with the pin 42 in notch38; and when the number 3 is exposed a long shot is set with the pin innotch 40, When the proper distance sho t has been set, the club head isplaced on the ground with the opening of the recess 18 adjacent the ballas shown in FIGURE 1. The handle of club is held in a manner similar tothat of holding a conventional club. As was previously indicated, it ispreferable to use a table tennis ball or the like. In order to strikethe ball, the trigger grip 60 is lightly pulled upwardly which willcause the cord 54 to pull the detent pin 42 out of the notch 36 and thestriking plate will be driven forward out of this cocked position by theforce of the compressed spring 32. The rounded portions 46 and 48 ofaperture 44 allow the pin to twist about an axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the pin, as it is withdrawn, greatly reducing theforce required to release the pin as opposed to only an axial slidingmotion in the slot which would occur if the operation were not roundedto permit turning of the pin. However, the pin is prevented from turningin the other direction under the urging of spring 32 because of theengagement of the pin 42 with the side walls of the aperture oppositethe rounded portions 46 and 48. Upon release of the pin, the plate willbe driven to the front opening of the recess where it will strike theball. Preferably the front striking face 27 of the striking plate 26 isinclined as shown in FIGURE 3 to impart loft to the ball as it isstruck. The striking plate will remain in this ball strik ing positionuntil it is again cocked and readied. After the shot has been made, whenthe trigger grip 60 is released the spring 50 will urge the pin 42against the rod 28 readying the striking mechanism for recocking.

The clubs of this invention are well suited for use indoors and out, anda course may be laid out using flat annular discs as holes or targets.The size of the disc may vary, but 3" to 12" diameter discs are wellsuited for this when table tennis balls are used in a modern-sized yard.The discs may be provided with pennants for marking, as shown inFIGURE 1. The halls may be painted ditferent colors to distinguishopponents balls.

Referring noW to FIGURES 6 and 7, another embodiment of this inventionis shown. In this embodiment the spring 32 is interposed between thestriking plate 26 and the rear wall of frame 16. The flexible cord 54 isconnected directly to the rear of the striking plate 26 by an eye screw72 and passes through a second eye screw '78 secured to the rear of thehead 14, In this embodiment, the trigger grip 60 is raised to cock thestriking plate against the face of the spring 32. The further thetrigger is pulled up the further the striking plate will move and thegreater will be the force imparted to the ball when the trigger isreleased and spring 32 drives the striking plate forward to the ballstriking position.

Still another embodiment of the club is shown in FIG- URES 8 through 10.In this embodiment the striking plate 26 is pivotally connected to theframe 16 by a pair of pivotally connected links 80 and 82. A pair oftension springs 84 and 86 are. secured between the rear of the strikingplate 26 and the frame 16 by clamp and screw assemblies 88. Incontradition to the other embodiments, these springs are tension springsand normally bias the striking plate into the recess 18 to the cockedposition. The links 80 and 82 are connected to a curved actuatingmechanism 56'. The trigger mechanism includes a plug 58' to which theend of actuating rod $0 is secured. A trigger grip 60' extends from theplug 58 through slot 62 in the handle 12. In this case, the triggerconfiguration is reversed from that of the other embodiments with thefinger engaging surface being directed upwardly. A return spring 92 isconnected between the top of plug 58' and the upper end of handle 12 byscrew 94. With this embodiment the striking plate is normally maintainedin the cocked position by springs 84, 86, and 92. To strike a ball theclub head is placed adjacent the ball as in the other embodiments andthe trigger grip 90 is pushed sharply downward. The triggerinterconnection between the rod 90 and striking plate 26 will cause theplate to move out to the front recess to strike the ball and when thetrigger is released the striking plate will be returned to the cockedposition under the action of the springs as previously described.

One of the outstanding advantages of all of the clubs described hereinis that they are ideally suited for children and adults to play afascinating simulated golfing game indoors and outdoors with innumerablevariations of courses being easily set up and changed, and the playingof the game is safe since it is free of swinging golf clubs and yet avariety of lifted, short and long shots make a most enjoyable game.

Although several embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, various adaptations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a club for playing a simulated golfing game which has a ballstriking plate movable between a ball striking position and at least onecocked position; and biasing means normally urging said striking plateto the ball striking position; the improvement which comprises, saidstriking plate having an extension with a stop surface corresponding toeach cocked position, a detent pin and means to mount said pin forguiding movement into and out of engagement with said stop surfaces,said means mounting the pin including means to permit twisting movementof the pin against the force of said biasing means as said pin moves outof engagement with said stop surface and means to prevent twistingmovement of the pin in the direction urged by the reaction force of thebiasing means.

2. In a club for playing a simulated golfing game in which a ballstriking plate is movable between a ball striking position and at leastone cocked position with biasing means normally urging said strikingplate to the ball striking position the improvement which comprises,said striking plate having an extension portion, a detent pin and meansmounting said pin for movement toward and away from said extensionportion, a stop surface on said extension corresponding to each cockedposition .and engageable by said detent pin, said means mounting saidpin including means to permit twisting movement of the detent pinagainst the bias of said biasing means as said pin moves out ofengagement with said stop surface when the pin is urged away from saidextension to release the detent holding action and means to preventtwisting movement of the pin in the direction urged by the reactionforce of the biasing means.

3. In a club for playing a simulated golfing game in which a ballstriking plate is movable between a ball striking position and at leastone cocked position with biasing means normally urging said strikingplate to the ball striking position, the improvement which comprises,said striking plate having an extension portion; a detent pin and meansmounting said pin for movement toward and away from said extension, stopsurfaces on said extension portion corresponding to each cocked positionand engageable by said detent pin, said means mounting said pinincluding wall means substantially parallel to the axis of said pin andpositioned to abut and hold said pin against the reaction of the biasingmeans, and relieved portions opposite said wall means to permit til-tingof said pin in a direction opposing the bias of said biasing means assaid pin moves out of engagement with said stop surfaces when the pin ismoved away from said extension to release the detent holding action.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said wall means are formed by anaperture slidably mounting said pin, and

5 6 said relieved portions are formed by rounded edges of 1,974,2249/1934 Van der Linden. said aperture. 2,001,449 5/ 1935 Bergstrom.

5. The device of claim 4 further characterized by 2,543,651 2/1951 Weiss12437 X second biasing means normally urging said pin toward 2,719,71610/1955 Sawtelle 273-429 said extension portion. 5

FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 103,212 H1917 GreatBritain UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,628 1/1917 Gumaer' RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1,508,327 9/1924 Higgins 273-129 10 LOUIS LBOVASSQAssislant Examiner.1,887,263 11/1932 Graves et a1 723-129

1. IN A CLUB FOR PLAYING A SIMULATED GOLFING GAME WHICH HAS A BALLSTRIKING PLATE MOVABLE BETWEEN A BALL STRIKING POSITION AND AT LEAST ONECOCKED POSITION; AND BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID STRIKING PLATETO THE BALL STRIKING POSITION; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, SAIDSTRIKING PLATE HAVING AN EXTENSION WITH A STOP SURFACE CORRESPONDING TOEACH COCKED POSITION, A DETENT PIN AND MEANS TO MOUNT SAID PIN FORGUIDING MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOP SURFACES,SAID MEANS MOUNTING THE PIN INCLUDING MEANS TO PERMIT TWISTING MOVEMENTOF THE PIN AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID BIASING MEANS AS SAID PIN MOVES OUTOF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOP SURFACE AND MEANS TO PREVENT TWISTINGMOVEMENT OF THE PIN IN THE DIRECTION URGED BY THE REACTION FORCE OF THEBIASING MEANS.